Contraception Reviews

Vaginal ring vs Hormonal IUD

Vaginal ring

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Hormonal IUD

Want to switch birth control?

Overview

Rated 3.3

12 reviews

3 weekly

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

Increased

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.6

47 reviews

3 - 8 years

Frequency

Over 99%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Vaginal ring ingredients

Main hormones in Vaginal ring

progestin


Hormonal IUD ingredients

Main hormones in Hormonal IUD

progestin

What Lowdown reviewers say

Mood

42% no impact on mood

Bleeds

33% regular periods

Sex drive

58% lost sex drive

Weight

58% gained weight

Skin

33% improved skin

Cycle return

40% in 1 month

Mood

43% no impact on mood

Bleeds

51% stopped periods

Sex drive

40% no impact

Weight

49% no impact

Skin

40% no impact on skin

Cycle return

50% in 1 month

Benefits: What this birth control can help with

Acne or bad skin

Heavy periods

PMS and PMDD

PCOS symptoms

Period pain

Adenomyosis

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Menopause

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Vaginal ring reviews

12 reviews

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

NuvaRing  

I love being able to control when I can start my period but my low to no sex drive isn’t for me. My cramping is just as bad (if not worse) than before going on it (the whole reason my gyn prescribed it) but I also now have more clots and dark blood on my period. I can tell my hormones are more regulated though and that’s been good for me mental health most days.

Read more

Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 8+ yr
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

NuvaRing  

I used nuva ring for 10+ years and had no side effects I left it in for 1 month removed it and put in a new ring and never had a period.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Vaginal ring  

Although I didn't get any physical symptoms, I did find notable mental side effects. History: I did have anxiety before starting the medication. Beginning (first month): I was an absolute raging b*tch. I could not control my anger. I was angry and crying all the time. I couldn't focus on anything. It was horrible. I felt like a monster. After the first month symptoms definitely leveled out. Like I said, no physical symptoms, but I noticed that the brain fog/inability to focus continued and although I did not experience clinical depression, I did feel like I just lost my overall happiness.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

NuvaRing  

I love being able to control when I can start my period but my low to no sex drive isn’t for me. My cramping is just as bad (if not worse) than before going on it (the whole reason my gyn prescribed it) but I also now have more clots and dark blood on my period. I can tell my hormones are more regulated though and that’s been good for me mental health most days.


Improved skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 8+ yr
42 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  2 weeks ago

NuvaRing  

I used nuva ring for 10+ years and had no side effects I left it in for 1 month removed it and put in a new ring and never had a period.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Vaginal ring  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Vaginal ring  

Although I didn't get any physical symptoms, I did find notable mental side effects. History: I did have anxiety before starting the medication. Beginning (first month): I was an absolute raging b*tch. I could not control my anger. I was angry and crying all the time. I couldn't focus on anything. It was horrible. I felt like a monster. After the first month symptoms definitely leveled out. Like I said, no physical symptoms, but I noticed that the brain fog/inability to focus continued and although I did not experience clinical depression, I did feel like I just lost my overall happiness.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Hormonal IUD reviews

47 reviews

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 day ago

Mirena IUD  


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

I’ve had it for 6 months and I have my period twice a month and the pain is pretty consistent day to day.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Mirena IUD  

My first IUD placement (Mirena) was without numbing shots, and it really was quite painful. The immediate pain lasted only a few seconds, but I had hot flashes for a few minutes afterwards. The next week, I got the heaviest period of my life, followed by about 4 months of light bleeding. After that, I lost my period completely for about 3 years, and then very light and irregular periods until I had it replaced. My period used to cause painful acne and very frustrating mood swings, which I was quite happy to go without. I did have some discomfort during sex, but only with larger partners and only in certain positions. My second IUD was the Kyleena. I did have numbing shots for the placement, and it was much more comfortable - similar to getting a pap smear. My period has gone away again, and I haven't noticed any pain during sex (Kyleena is a little smaller). My only real concern about the IUD is that if I were to become pregnant while the IUD is in place, it is very likely to be ectopic. I do take a pregnancy test every couple of months, so if it does happen I can get the care I need. I live in a state with very good and safe abortion care, so I would be able to get help right away, but it's still something to keep in mind. All that being said, I would 100% recommend an IUD. I have been nearly period-free since 2018, which is well worth the pain of insertion. I really appreciate being able to avoid the acne, pain, and mood swings I used to get with my period, and I really really appreciate that I have an incredibly effective form of birth control that I only have to think about once every 8 years. I love my IUD so much, and I am probably going to use IUDs as my primary form of birth control for the rest of my life.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
22 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 day ago

Mirena IUD  


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  3 weeks ago

Mirena IUD  

I’ve had it for 6 months and I have my period twice a month and the pain is pretty consistent day to day.


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  1 month ago

Mirena IUD  

My first IUD placement (Mirena) was without numbing shots, and it really was quite painful. The immediate pain lasted only a few seconds, but I had hot flashes for a few minutes afterwards. The next week, I got the heaviest period of my life, followed by about 4 months of light bleeding. After that, I lost my period completely for about 3 years, and then very light and irregular periods until I had it replaced. My period used to cause painful acne and very frustrating mood swings, which I was quite happy to go without. I did have some discomfort during sex, but only with larger partners and only in certain positions. My second IUD was the Kyleena. I did have numbing shots for the placement, and it was much more comfortable - similar to getting a pap smear. My period has gone away again, and I haven't noticed any pain during sex (Kyleena is a little smaller). My only real concern about the IUD is that if I were to become pregnant while the IUD is in place, it is very likely to be ectopic. I do take a pregnancy test every couple of months, so if it does happen I can get the care I need. I live in a state with very good and safe abortion care, so I would be able to get help right away, but it's still something to keep in mind. All that being said, I would 100% recommend an IUD. I have been nearly period-free since 2018, which is well worth the pain of insertion. I really appreciate being able to avoid the acne, pain, and mood swings I used to get with my period, and I really really appreciate that I have an incredibly effective form of birth control that I only have to think about once every 8 years. I love my IUD so much, and I am probably going to use IUDs as my primary form of birth control for the rest of my life.


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  28th Feb 25

Mirena IUD  

If you are considering the hormonal IUD route, I highly encourage you to read this! I primarily chose to switch over to the Mirena due to the weight gain I experienced while on the pill. To preface, I never had any issues with vaginal dryness prior to the switch. Following the insertion, I have been almost completely unable to get wet. As I stated before, this was never a problem for me regardless of arousal. It has been over a year, and without using an external lubricant, I physically cannot have sex due to the severity of this issue. It can be humiliating if the person i’m getting with isn’t aware of the causation. Just wanted to make it known, because it’s impacted my life pretty significantly.


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  5th Jan 25

Mirena IUD  

I took this for endometriosis and it dialed my pain and symptoms down from a 9 to a 2-3, for a whole year. Unfortunately after a year I felt the pain begin to creep back in, a little more intense every month after that year mark, so I decided to pursue excision surgery as a more permanent solution. If you’re not ready for surgery but want endo relief, definitely encourage you to give Mirena a try!


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
46 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Jan 25

Kyleena IUD  

I just had it inserted yesterday.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇺🇸 US
  •  20th Dec 24

Mirena IUD  

Just got this inserted early November. It's December and Im experiencing a month of bleeding, cramps, irritability, nausea, headaches, dizziness, feeling unwell everyday.


Very negative mood

1 more effect

3 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  7th Nov 24

Hormonal IUD  

Caused increased anxiety, extreme cystic acne that did not respond to prescription acne treatments, and severe hair loss. Made my periods longer and heavier at first, then they finally started getting lighter but I was still spotting almost every day. Gave me hot flashes badly.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  23rd Oct 24

Kyleena IUD  

Didn't use it long enough to really form an opinion yet, but the reason I got it in the first place was because of very heavy periods and cramps. It has helped with that.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Hormonal IUD  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
  •  4th Aug 24

Mirena IUD  

After 14 months I pretty much don't have a period, but I still have light to moderate cramping a couple of times a month.


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

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